Umrah Badal for Deceased Parents, Complete Guide

The question usually comes in the weeks or months after a parent passes away. Sometimes it comes years later, when the grief has settled but the wish to do something is still there. Sometimes it comes when a parent is still alive but their health has made any journey impossible.

Can you still do something for them?

Umrah Badal is one of the most widely arranged acts of worship for this purpose. A full Umrah is performed in Masjid al-Haram, Makkah, with the intention dedicated to your parent by name. The reward reaches them.

This guide covers everything: who qualifies, what the Islamic position is, how the Umrah is performed, and what families typically experience when they arrange this.

Who Qualifies as a Recipient for Umrah Badal?

For Umrah Badal to be valid, the recipient must be one of the following:

Deceased parents (most common case)

A parent who has passed away, regardless of whether they ever performed Umrah during their lifetime. The fact that they did not perform Umrah before they died is not a barrier. Umrah itself is voluntary in Islam (not obligatory in the way Hajj is), so there is no debt to settle, it is a pure gift of reward.

Living parents with permanent incapacity

A parent who is still alive but permanently unable to travel to Makkah and perform Umrah themselves. This includes:

• Extreme old age, a parent in their 80s or 90s who cannot physically make the journey
• Permanent illness or medical condition that prevents travel
• Permanent physical disability making the acts of Umrah impossible

If the incapacity is temporary, a parent recovering from surgery who may travel again, most scholars say to wait until they can perform it themselves.

The Islamic Evidence

The basis for performing acts of worship on behalf of the deceased comes from multiple authentic narrations. The Prophet ﷺ was asked on several occasions whether acts of worship performed on behalf of the deceased benefit them, and confirmed that they do.

The narration most directly applicable comes from Bukhari and Muslim: a woman asked the Prophet ﷺ whether she could perform the pilgrimage on behalf of her elderly father who could not travel. He told her to do so. Islamic scholars, across the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools, have applied this ruling to Umrah.

For a full discussion of the Islamic ruling and evidence across all four madhabs, see: Is Umrah Badal Permissible in Islam?

For a Deceased Mother

Arranging Umrah Badal for a deceased mother is one of the most common requests we receive. A mother who spoke about going to Makkah her whole life but never made it. A mother who prayed five times a day for decades but the opportunity never came. A mother whose passing left her children looking for something they could still give her.

The Umrah is performed with her full name stated in the intention before Ihram. Everything, the Tawaf around the Kaaba, the Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, the Taqsir, is done in her name. The reward reaches her.

There are families who watch the video of the Tawaf and go very quiet. That is something we see often, and it matters.

For a Deceased Father

The same applies for a deceased father. A father who always intended to perform Hajj or Umrah but health, finances, or circumstances never aligned. A father who worked his whole life for his family and never found the time. Arranging Umrah Badal for him is one of the things his children can still do for him.

The intention names him specifically. The reward is his.

For Both Parents

If both parents have passed away, or if both are permanently unable to travel, you can arrange Umrah Badal for both. Two separate bookings are placed, each with a different name and intention. Many families do this on the same day. Some children do it on a parent’s birthday, or on the anniversary of their passing, or during Ramadan.

There is no restriction on how many family members you arrange Umrah Badal for over time. Some of our customers have arranged it for parents, grandparents, and siblings across different bookings over the years.

What Happens When You Book

The process is straightforward:

1. You place the booking, providing the full name of the person for whom the Umrah is being performed and completing payment ($295.00).
2. We confirm, you receive a confirmation email with your booking details and the expected completion window (3 to 7 days).
3. Our team in Makkah performs the Umrah, they travel to Masjid al-Haram, enter Ihram with your parent’s name stated in the intention, and complete the full Umrah: seven circuits of Tawaf around the Kaaba, seven laps of Sa’i between Safa and Marwa, and Taqsir.
4. You receive video proof, we send you video of the Tawaf from inside Masjid al-Haram. You see the Kaaba. You see it was done.

The whole process, from booking to video in your inbox, typically takes 3 to 7 days. If you need it completed during a specific time (Ramadan, the last ten nights, Dhul Hijjah), contact us before booking.

The Video Proof

Every booking includes video of the Tawaf in Masjid al-Haram. No exceptions.

Many people ask why the video matters, since the reward is spiritual, not something you can see. The answer is that it matters practically. It removes doubt. You know it was done. You know it was done in the right place. You know it was done for the right person.

Families often share the video with each other, siblings sending it to one another across different countries. Some watch it more than once. Some share it with their children. It is not a religious requirement. But it is something tangible that says: this was done for them.

Making dua for your parents after the Umrah has been completed is encouraged. The act of Umrah Badal and your ongoing dua together are among the most meaningful things their children can do for them.

Common Questions from Families

My parent passed away years ago. Is it too late?

No. There is no time limit. Umrah Badal can be arranged for a parent years or decades after their passing. The reward reaches them regardless of when the Umrah is performed relative to their death.

My parent was unable to perform Umrah during their lifetime. Does that matter?

No. Umrah is voluntary in Islam, so there is no religious debt attached to it the way there might be with Hajj (if a person was capable of Hajj but never performed it). Umrah Badal for a deceased parent is a voluntary gift of reward, there is nothing owed, and the gift is still valid and meaningful regardless.

My parent performed Umrah during their lifetime. Can I still arrange Umrah Badal for them?

Yes. Having previously performed Umrah does not disqualify someone from being the recipient of Umrah Badal. You can gift someone additional acts of worship after death, just as you can give sadaqah on their behalf regardless of their prior deeds.

What name should I give?

The full name of the person, the name they were known by, or their Islamic name if different. Some scholars recommend including the mother’s name as well (e.g., “Ahmad ibn Fatima”), as this is common in Islamic supplication. Either format is acceptable.

Do I need to be present during the Umrah?

No. You arrange it online and receive the video proof afterward. The Umrah is performed by our team in Makkah on your behalf. You do not need to be present, in Saudi Arabia, or anywhere specific.